CHICAGO (AP) — President Barack Obama is remembering Ernie Banks as "an incredible ambassador for baseball, and for the city of Chicago" who was known as much for his love of the game as for his home runs.

The Chicago Cubs slugger known as "Mr. Cub" died last night at 83.

Banks was a two-time MVP who never lost his boundless enthusiasm for baseball despite years of playing on losing Cubs teams. "Mr. Cub" hit 512 home runs during his 19-year career, including five seasons with 40 or more.

Banks was an 11-time All-Star from 1953 to 1971 on a team that never made it to the postseason. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1977, the first year he was eligible, and selected to baseball's All-Century team in 1999.

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